The academician N. N. Burdenko — the participant of four wars (to the seventy fifth Anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War)

Abstract

On the eve of the 75th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, one should recall the great neurosurgeon, scientist, organizer of military medical science, founder of prominent scientific school, academician N. N. Burdenko. His first experience as direct participant in warfare occurred in 1904 when he was medical student. He went through four wars being permanently at the front line. He carried out extremely complicated surgery operations, improved medical care and organized evacuation of the wounded. During the Great Patriotic War 1941 -1945, he, being the chief surgeon of the Red Army, headed all activities of organization of surgical care, came out to the troops, trained military surgeons to emergency interventions, developed teaching of wound, developed methods of surgical treatment of blood vessels, traumatic shock, introduced application of antibiotics (penicillin and gramicidin), developed methods of surgical treatment of oncologic diseases of central and vegetative nervous system, improved technique of surgical interventions on spinal cord roots as well as on cerebellum, bulbectomy operations, etc. The academician N. N. Burdenko as Stalin Prize laureate, became one of founders and the first President of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences. The contribution of academician N. N. Burdenko in the cause of victory in The Great Patriotic War is priceless.